For questions email kellyjimenez@pwswcd.org, and for possible cancellations due to weather, call 703-491-2183.

Lots of great partners in this project!

• Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District
• Prince William Trails and Streams Coalition
• Prince William County Park Authority
• Neabsco Action Alliance
• Keep Prince William Beautiful
• Prince William County Board of Supervisors

Please register for this event here.  Please, please, please register – in order to have sufficient supplies for everyone we really need to know how many people to expect at each site.

We’ll have a shuttle for canoeists and kayakers available on a scheduled basis on both the Prince William and Fairfax County sides of the river, but you must register!  Dumpsters and toilet facilities will be available, and trash bags, gloves and refreshments will be provided.  Check back for more information as we get closer to the big day – we’ll have the map and a flyer up soon.  Contact Ed if you have any questions efdandar@comcast.net.

This event could not go on without the help of our fabulous partners: the Prince William County Park Authority, Friends of the Occoquan, Alice Ferguson Foundation, Occoquan Watertrail League, Dale City Civic Association, REI, Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District, Prince William County BOS, and the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.

Please register for this workday here – registration isn’t required, but it really helps us best plan for the day.  In case of inclement weather, check our website the morning of the event for cancellation/ postponement information.  For more information, contact Zoe at president@pwtsc.org.

For more information, contact Zoe at president@pwtsc.org.

Contact Eric at edvannortwick@comcast.net if you have any questions.

Please join PWTSC in performing winter maintenance at James S. Long Regional Park at 9am Saturday, February 11th.  We will be trimming branches away and removing downed trees from the trails, raking leaves and re-enforcing some of the newer sections, as well as preparing the trails for Spring traffic.  The trails are located in old hardwood areas and cross a couple creeks making them quite scenic.

The park is located at 4603 James Madison Hwy and we will be meeting at the baseball fields parking lot at the back of the park.  You can find a map of the location here: http://g.co/maps/2q6u2.   Please bring gloves, tree trimmers, rakes, and shovels for the maintenance.  Limited tools will be provided by PWTSC in support of this event.

Please register for this event here.  – registration isn’t required, but it really helps us best plan for the day.  In case of inclement weather, check our website the morning of the event for cancellation/ postponement information. Point of contact is Scott Helberg at 703-855-4011.

On Saturday, December 3, runners enjoyed the winter like weather running in the inaugural Broad Run Trail 5 Mile Jingle Bell Run.  Over 75 runners, and walkers, registered for the new race which was created to highlight the Broad Run Linear Trail.  It was a crisp morning with the temperature hovering around the 35F mark.  For many of the runners this was the first time they had run a race on a trail, or raced in a 5 mile event.

As the runners started off on their journey they created a joyful holiday sound with jingle bells announcing their presence along the Broad Run trail, through the woods and on to the finish line at Victory Lakes Elementary School.   Feedback from the runners, and walkers, was extremely positive with many commenting on the wonderful sights experienced along the trail.  Several people had the opportunity to observe an eagle flying over the trail area.

Everyone was a winner in the Jingle Bell 5 Miler.  Haben Zemichael was the overall winner and first place in the women’s division overall went to Emily Ferguson.  We want to thank The Running Store and Dick’s Sporting Goods for supporting the race with wonderful prizes for the overall and age group winners.  Of course everyone walked away something from the race to include a great experience on the trail, a water bottle from the Park Authority and jingle bells that can be used for the holiday season.

The Broad Run Linear Trail is one of several trail projects being worked on by volunteers from Prince William Trails and Streams Coalition (PWTSC) with support from the Prince William County Park Authority.  Currently the trail runs from the vicinity of Victory Lakes Elementary along the Broad Run up to the Kingsbrooke sub-division.  The trail will eventually run from behind the Target on Route 28 to Glenkirk Road near Lake Manassas which is approximately 7.5 miles. In the next couple of months two new bridges will be built along the trail near Victory Lakes to create easier access to the trail for trail users.  Information concerning PWTSC can be found at http://www.pwtsc.org.

Update 10/28/11: The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be held rain or shine so the Public put-in point can be officially opened.  The paddling portion on the River has been cancelled due to approaching bad weather.

The Prince William County Park Authority with the assistance of the Prince William Trails and Streams Coalition (www.pwtsc.org ) has developed a new Trailhead to the Occoquan River below the Lake Jackson Dam.  This new trail will provide easier access to the River for canoeists, kayakers, and fishermen.

A ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for 29 October at 10 AM.  The Trailhead opening was sped up by services and materials donated by Dominion Power, Branscome Paving and Olde Towne Landscaping.

The nearest take-out point for canoeists/kayakers will be the Bull Run Marina which is about 9.5 miles downstream or about a 5.5 hour paddle.  Paddlers should plan on dropping off their equipment at the Occoquan River Trailhead area and take their vehicles to the Bull Run Marina Parking Lot.  Directions to the Bull Run Marina from the Occoquan River Trailhead can be found below.

A second take-out point for only 29 October will be the Riverview Estates HOA take-out site which is about 5.5 miles downstream and will be available by special permission of the HOA.  Directions to that site are also below.

A one-time shuttle service to move paddlers from the Bull Run Marina Parking Lot and the Riverview Estates HOA site back to the Occoquan River Trailhead is being planned for that day to ease traffic congestion.

Canoeists and Kayakers are requested to register for this opening event by calling Ed Dandar, PWTSC project officer at 703-791-6158 or blueways@pwtsc.org. Ed needs to know who is coming and what take-out site they will be using so he can coordinate shuttle transportation.  Carpooling is encouraged.

Directions to Occoquan River Trailhead Site

From I-95 go north on Rte. 234 and cross the Occoquan Creek Bridge.  Make a left turn at 1st red light on to Coles Drive and an immediate left on to Mercury Drive.  Make a left turn on Hinson Mill Lane and Trailhead entrance.  Paddlers drop-off equipment and proceed to Bull Run Marina.   Other visitors will be helped to find parking in the general area.

From Rte. 28 go south on Rte. 234 passing the Brentsville Road Exit and Traffic Light and turning right at the next Traffic Light on to Coles Drive and then left on to Mercury Drive.  If you miss the Coles Drive turn, make next right turn before the Bridge on to Hinson Mill Lane where someone will help you find parking in the general area.  Car-pooling is encouraged because parking is limited on Mercury Drive and between the Outdoor Furniture and Backyard Shed & Deck.  Parking is available off of Coles Rd on the shoulder of Collinreid Ct.

Directions from Occoquan River Trailhead to Bull Run Marina Parking Lot

Start from the Trailhead Entrance on Hinson Mill Lane and proceed northwest on Mercury Dr. toward Coles Dr. Turn right onto Coles Dr. Turn left at traffic light onto VA-234 N/Dumfries Rd.  Turn slight right at next light onto VA-3000 E/Prince William Parkway.  Stay straight and turn right at 3d light onto Prince William Parkway/VA-3000 E.  At second light, turn left onto Yates Ford Rd.  Go straight thru next light.  Yates Ford Rd becomes VA-612/Old Yates Ford Rd.  Crossover the Bull Run Bridge and the Bull Run Marina Parking Lot is on the right side about 200 yds.

Directions from Occoquan River Trailhead to Riverview Estates HOA Site

Start from Trailhead Entrance on Hinson Mill Lane and proceed northwest on Mercury Dr. toward Coles Dr. Turn right onto Coles Dr. Turn left at traffic light onto VA-234 N/Dumfries Rd.  Turn slight right at next light onto VA-3000 E/Prince William Parkway.  Stay straight and turn right at 3d light onto Prince William Parkway/VA-3000 E.  At second light, turn left onto Yates Ford Rd.  Turn right at next light on to Davis Ford Road.   Go over bridge and turn right onto River Forest Drive (into Riverview Estates), then turn right onto Greenway Court.  At the end of the cul-de-sac the gate will be open so you can go down to the river and park in designated area.

Good news. The Lake Jackson Dam Public Canoe/Kayak put-in point has been approved by Prince William County. With that in mind, on September 17, we finished roughing in a new trail to the river.  See the photo gallery for before during and after pictures.

The trail starts on far right side of construction site behind piles of dumped dirt. Entrance from Parking Sign area still needs to be done.

I will try to meet and talk with the contractor at the site on Monday about moving his equipment forward about 10 feet, and perhaps helping us with building the Trail in that area and in improving the Parking area.

There are a lot of invasive plants in new trail area and we will need help in identifying and removing them so they do not kill the good trees there.

We removed about 4 bags of trash, 1 bag of recyclables, and an old tire from area. There is still a lot of broken glass down near the river and that part of trail needs improving.

Thanks to all those who participated in our second annual Broad Run Trail Run!  Results are posted here.  Pictures of the race are posted here and here.

Additional details on the race can be found on the flier here 2011 Broad Run Trail Jingle Bell 5 Miler.  We’ve also posted a course map of the route here.

Register at www.signmeup/75022

If you aren’t going to run you can still help out.  We need volunteers to mark the trail, hand out medals to winners, set up snacks and water.

Contact Paula Small at 571-334-3645 to volunteer for the event.